Pitless scale.



` No. 825,293. PATENTED JULY l0, 1906. H. G. BBUCKMANN.

PITLESS SCALE.

APPLIUATION FILED DEG. 27. 1905.

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EDWARD F. JONES,

or BiNGHAMroN, New YORK.

PITLESS SCALE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 10, 1906.

Application filed December 27, 1905.V Serial No. 293,450.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY G. BEUCK- MANN, of Binghamton, in the county of Broome, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Pitless Scales, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description. l

This invention relates to improvements in pitless scales, the essential purpose of which is to provide a complete wagon-scale adapted to be supported upon the surface of the ground, thereby avoiding the necessity for excavations for the usual pit, and in which the compensating' or equalizing levers and, in fact, practically all of the essential operating parts arc inclosed within a substantially horizontal rectangular frame and below the platform upon which the load is supported.y In devices of this character the strains are localized at certain points or bearings, usually in the line of travel of or directly unv der the wheels or runners of the vehicle in which the load to be carried is weighed, and in thc specific use of pitless scales it becomes necessary to bring all of the parts within a comparatively shallow horizontal space as low down as possible, so that the vehicle may be easily drawn upon the platform.

My object therefore is to produce a comparatively light portable wagon-scale having as few parts as may be consistent with the work which it is required to perform and to concentrate the entire superimposed load upon suitable supporting feet or chains, which not only receive and reinforce the ends of the frame where the strains are most severe, but also form supports for the stirrups or hangers for the platforin-supporting levers, thereby bringing the load on the platform and levers directly onto the chains instead of on the frame. In other words, I have sought to use a comparatively light but rigid rectan ular frame of any available stock-such as c annel or angle irons, I-beams, flat bars of iron or steel-or in some instances I may prefer to construct a frame wholly or partly of wood beams or bars 5 but in either case the frame will be mounted upon suitable supportingfeet adapted to rest upon the ground and to hold the frame a convenient distance above the surface of the ground to permit the platform and its supporting equalizing-levers to be supported wholly within the frame between the horizontal plane of the top of thc frame and surface of the ground or bottoms of the supporting-feet, so that all of the parts of the complete scales may be assembled as a unitary structure or article of manufacture to be instantly placed in operative position upon any available ground-surface.

The object of the specific platform-stringers is to materially cheapen the structure without sacrificing the necessary rigidity and to provide this Stringer with suitable bearings adapted to rest upon the corresponding seats or knife-edges of the underlying equalizing-levers, and to include in the stringers suitable wood furring or filling to which the floor of the platform may be readily spiked or nailed.

Other objects and uses relating to other parts of the scales will be brought out in the following description.

In the drawings, Figure l iS vertical sectional view of my improved pitless scales. Fig. 2 is a top plan, partly in section, of a portion of one end of the main supporting-frame, showing the adjacent end or one of the platform-stringers and underlying equalizing-lever upon which said Stringer rests. Figs. 8, 4, and 5 are enlarged sectional views taken, respectively, on lines 3 3, Fig. 1, 4 4, Fig. 3, and 5 5, Fig. 4, the clevis or stirrup seen in Fig. 3 being omitted from Figs. 4 and 5. Figs. 6 and 7 are perspective views, respectively, of one ofthe footrests and the bearing-section of one of the platform stringers. Figs. 8, 9, and l0 are sectional views similar to Fig. 5, showing modified forms of foot-rest and different means for reinforcing and securing the main frame thereto.

In order to clearly illustrate the practicability and utility of my invention, I have shown a rectangular frame consisting of opposite parallel side pieces l, similar end pieces 2, which are rigidly and permanently secured to the side pieces by any suitable fastening device, as corner-pieces 3, thereby forming a substantially rectangular open frame in which the platform and its supporting parts are movably mounted. This main supporta longitudinal ing-frame 1s comparatively light and portableA l and is supported some distance above the surface of the ground upon suitable foot-rests or chairs 4 and 5 but the end bars 2 proaches, as a, to the platform are subjected at the ap` r IOO to the most severe bending and buckling strains, and in order that I may be able to vided near its vends with radial lugs or ears 16, each having a pair of oppositely-prejecting use comparatively light material for the end knife-bearings 17, which are seated in suitbars and still maintain sufficient strength and rigidity to resist the strains of any superimposed load each of the bars 2 is seated upon and secured to a pair of the foot-rests or chairs 47 which are constructed in such manj ner as to reinforce and sustain the end bars 2 at the points where the strain is the greatest and in this instance are located at opposite sides of the center of the platform., substantially the same distance apart as the wheels of an ordinary wagon, so that when the wagon is driven upon the platform the foot-rests or chairs 4 will be nearly under the line of travel of the wheels as it is traveling to and from or resting upon the weighing-platform, thereby better resisting the end thrust of the vehicle when approaching the platform and also affording ample support to resist the superimposed dead load only where necessary. These foot-rests are provided with comparatively broad fiat bases 4, adapted to rest upon the surface of the ground, and their upperA faces may also be substantially flat, as seen in Figs. '9 and 10, for supporting any suitable form of end bar; but when steel channel or angle bars, or, in fact, any bar having a baseange, is used I preferably provide each chair or foot-rest 4 with an upwardly-projecting return extension 6, forming with the base a channel or groove 7 for receiving the basefla'nge, as 2 of the end frame-bar r,2. These foot-rests or chairs are preferably made of cast-iron and are arranged with the open -sides of the slots 7 facing inwardly, so that lthe flanges of the end frame-bars 2 face outwardly, and the upward return extension 6 of eachfoot-rest orchair preferably abuts against the outer face of the upright web of the chann nel-bar 2 and is rigidly clamped thereto by clamping-bolts 8.

`Associated with each of the foot-rests or chairs 4 is a hook-'shape bearing lor bracket 9, which, as seen in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, is preferably integral with the return extension 6 and projects through an opening 11 in the frame-bar 2 to support the platformlevers, and thereby throw the ,load directly upon the chairs or foot-rests instead of upon the ends of the frame. Each chair 4 is therefore provided with a hook-shape bracket 9, from which is suspended a swinging hanger or clevis 12 for receiving and su porting suitable equalizing-levers 13, and it tlfi follows that each chair 4 supports a swinging clevis 12, those of each pair supporting one end of each of the equalizing-levers 13;

As best seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, each of the equalizing-levers comprises a rock-bar 14 and an inwardly-projecting arm 15, said rockerefore i yover the able eyes 18 in the lower swinging ends cf the adjacent clevises 12. These equalizing-levers are arranged wholly within the man supporting-frame between the horizontal planes of the top of the frame and the bottom of the foot-rests 4 with sufficient clearance to permit them to swing freely the required distance.

Each parallel rock-bar 14 is provided near its ends with inwardly-projecting seats 20, upon which are mounted knife-edge bearings 21 for receiving and supporting the ends of the platform-stringers presently described. The knife-bearings 21 are arranged in a plane below but in a vertical plane some distance inside of the bearings 17 in the clevises 12, so that when the platform-stringers are operatively mounted upon the knife-bearings 2 1 the bars 14 and clevises 12 are free to swing upon their respective axes, such swinging motion being imparted to a counter-lever c through the medium of the arms 15, which are rigidly secured at one end to the ends of their respective bars 14 and extend inwardly or lengthwise toward each other to a point near the center of one of the side bars 1 and are separately and flexibly connected to suitable hooks or supports 23 on the counter-lever c. This counter-lever is fulcrumed at its inner end at 24 upon the chair 5, which is secured to and projects inwardly from the center of the side bar 1 and forms a convenient support for the counter-lever c, as well as for the center of the adjacent side bar 1, where more or less strain is produced by the action of the equalizing-lever upon the counter-lever.

I have thus far described the specific means for supporting and reinforcing a comparatively light rectangular main frame upon the surface of the ground in such manner as to permit the platform and its suporting-levers to be suspended wholly within the hori- Zontal plane of the frame and its supports. .Another important feature of my invention resides in the particular construction of platform, which consists, essentially, opposite parallel lengthwise strin ers which are sup orted wholly within theghorizontal plane o the main frame and its supportingchairs or foot-rests and upon the knife-edge bearings o'f the equaliZing-levers 13 just inside of the adjacent chairs or foot-rests 4 and are therefore spaced lequal to the distance etween the wheels of the wagon, so that when a wagon is drawn upon the platform the wheels will ride nearly platform-supporting stringers.` Each of these stringers referably comprises a pair of comparative y short cast-iron or wrought-iron end'pieces 25, opposite parallel side bars or plates 26, and an intervening filling or bar 27, of wood, to which the l of a pair of y apart a distance about IOO floor, as 28, of the platform may be spiked. together with the frame-bar 2, being secured 65 rI"he length of each of the stringers is nearly directly to the top face of the foot-rest 4 by coextensive with the distance betweenthe the `clamping-bolt 40, thehook, as 9, being stringers to play freely up and down to o may be stored and shipped in a knockdown 7o erate the equalizing-levers 13 and counterform, occupying but little space, and may be lever c. Each of the metal end pieces 25 is readily assembled .upon the ground by simpl provided a slight distance inwardly from its clamping the meeting ends 1 and 2 together outer end with a depending projection 30, and mounting the frame in the foot-rests or having a concaved bearing-face 31, of hard bars 4, whereupon the rock-bars 14 may be 75 steel or its equivalent, resting upon the hung in their clevises or stirrups upon the knife-edge 21 and is provided with a series hooks 9 and the inner ends of the arms 15 of threaded apertures for receiving screwconnected to the hooks 23 of the swinging bolts 32, by which the end planks or floorclevis on the counter-lever c. The platformpieces may be secured in place upon the stringers are then placed upon their respec- 8o stringers, as best seen in Fig. 3. rIhe paraltive bearings 21, and the flooring 28 is then lel bars or plates 26 are secured by bolts 34 spiked or bolted to the stringers, thus cornto opposite faces of the end pieces 25, and pleting the scales ready for use. the interposed bar 27, of wood, abuts against What I claim is` the adjacent ends of the end pieces 25 and is 1. In a pitless platform-scales, a rectangu- 8 5 rigidly clamped between the side pieces 26 lar frame, a pair of foot-rests secured to each by bolts 35. This produces a 'particularly end of the frame at opposite sides of its lonlight, strong, and eHicient Stringer spanning gitudinal center and adapted to rest upon the the distance between and resting upon the surface of the ground for supporting the rock-bars 14, thestringer-sections27, ofwood, frame some distance above such surface, a 9o serving the double purpose of a reinforcinghook or bracket integral with and projecting truss in its association with the comparainwardly from eachl of the foot-rests and tively light side plates 26 and end bearingthrough the frame, a clevis pivotally suspieces 25 and also permitting the flooring to pended from each bracket, platform-supportbe spiked thereto, thereby avoiding the neing levers pivotally hung in said clevises, par 95 cessity for furring or extra wood st-ringers. allel stringers spannin the distance between e ends of the stringers`that is, the and resting upon saidg bars at the inside of metal bearings 25`rest upon their respective their rocking axes, and a Hooring secured to Dknife-bearings 21, which are seated upon and the stringers.

near the ends of the bar 14 just inside of the 2. In a wagon-scales, a rectanffular frame, roo outwardly-projecting ears 16, so that the a pair of foot-rests secured to eac end of the Stringer-bearings and adjacent bearings for frame for supporting the latter some distance the rock-.bar 14 are in close proximity to above the surface of the ground, said footavoid as far as practicable any torsional rests being located at opposite sides of the strains between the Stringer-bearings and lon itudinal center of the frame, a chair or 105 those of the rock-bar or equalizing-lever, and hoo -shaped bracket integral with each end at the same time this relative arrangement of the foot-rests and projecting through the of the foot-rests and bearings for the operatframe, swingin stirrups or clevises hun@ in ing parts enables me to bring the bars 14 and said brackets, p atform-levers pivotally hung earings 25 close to the end frame-bars 2, in said stirrups within and below the upper 11o making the whole device as compact as possisurface of the frame and provided with knifele and still allowing ample clearance for the bearings in proximity to the stirrups and ree movement of the working parts. platform-stringers havin end bearings of he upward return extensions 6 of the metal seated on said kni e-bearings and infoot-rests or bars 4 are in most instances detervening sections of wood to which the loor- 1 I 5 sirable as furnishing an economic means for ing of the platform may be spiked. supporting and reinforcing the end frame- 3. In a wagon-scales, a rectangular horibars 2 where the strains are most severe; but zontal frame in combination with foot-rests such extensions are not absolutely necessary or chairs arranged in pairs, each pair being in carrying out the objects stated, andI in secured to one end of the frame at opposite 12o Figs. 9 and 10 I have shown afoot-rest or sides of its longitudinal center, each chair bar4 as provided with a plain or substantially aving a comparatively broad base adapted flat top, to which the end bar 2 is directly to rest upon the surface of the ground and secured by means of one or more clampingprovided with an upward extension bearing bolts 40, and in Fig. 10 I have shown subagainst one of the upright faces of the adja- 125 stantially the same device seen in Fig. 9, cent end of the frame' to brace and reinforce except that the channel-iron 2 is reinforced said end against bending or bucklin strains. y one or more corner-brackets 41, the latter, 4. In a wagonscales, a rectangu ar frame having side and end pieces rigidly secured together, foot-rests or chairs arranged in pairs, one pair for each end of the frame, those of each pair being secured to said end at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of the frame, and provided with upward return eX- tensions forming an open-sid d slot for receiving a portion of the adjacent end of the frame, said upward extensions bearing against one of the upright faces of said end piece.

5. In a pitless wagon-scales, end framebars and chairs there or, each having a portion thereof projecting through an opening in the frame-bar and platform-supports mounted on the portions of the chairs projecting through said opening.

6. ln a pitless wagon-scales, end framebars and chairs therefor, each having a portion thereof projecting through an opening in the frame-bar, and platform-supporting levers suspended from said portions of the foot-rests.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 11th day of December, 1905 HENRY G. BEUCKMANN. Y

Witnesses:

V E. C. SrssoN,

W. H. MORSE. 

